tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31028479548004358282016-04-14T13:17:17.446-05:00La Condition HumaineDocumenting one guy's journey toward the end - with frequent stops at FUN! and fantastic. Side trips to serendipity and kismet.LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-65084906426042216832015-08-16T09:16:00.001-05:002015-08-16T09:16:43.245-05:00So... years between posts.&nbsp; Sucks rox I know.&nbsp; But there was no real audience here - just a few friends and frankly, with no feedback it was a bit more than narcissistic to keep posting for just myself.<br /><br />But, lots has happened in the intervening years.&nbsp; A severe car/MC crash and much more.<br /><br />Because the audience is much larger I've posted my adventures here: <a href="http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/i-do-not-want-to-die.1082564/">http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/i-do-not-want-to-die.1082564/</a><br /><br />Y'all should be able to see everything even if you're not a member of the ADV family.<br /><br />I doubt that I'll update here again - no audience - and the feedback I get on ADV is a good thing.<br /><br />Come on over and follow along with my adventures. LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-43588778708581249202013-01-01T10:59:00.002-06:002013-01-01T10:59:30.636-06:00Yeah, It's Been AwhileA new year starts.&nbsp; What will it bring?&nbsp;<br /><br />Certainly the last half of 2012 was not like it had been envisioned.<br /><br />Lots less motorcycle riding.<br /><br />Some excellent scenery seen - and photographed for future 'catch-up' posts.<br /><br />Travel to Gran Canaria - and being in a totally different culture than America was enlightening.<br /><br />Avoiding all of the involuntary political advertisements of the political season was absolutely wonderful.&nbsp; What a bunch of crooks and liars they all are.<br /><br />Well, it's a bright and cool day here in NCal - I'm off for a MC ride through some of the gold country.<br /><br />I sincerely hope that your 2013 brings to you all that you wish for.LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-55261198757569238092012-07-08T22:10:00.003-05:002012-07-08T22:52:24.215-05:00Life - Not On The Road<div style="font-family: inherit;"><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:10887 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The plan was for me to arrive in Mather on Friday 22<sup>nd</sup>.&nbsp; My DiL – Jessica – was going to fly to New York with the youngest – Kinsley – to visit her parents for two weeks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was to be the designated caretaker of the three boys for the first week as Jeremiah still had to work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the problem with the Hard Krome exhaust pipes preempted all the plans to ride the California national parks, so I arrived a week early to deal with that problem.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I also bought the new caravan – the Casita – to deal with the problem of the Aliner not being suitable for frequent travel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The plan was to spend the days surrounding the 4<sup>th</sup> of July in the Sierra’s at a <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/xPXZ" target="_blank">campground</a>&nbsp; near <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/uhBC" target="_blank">Bridgeport CA</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">That part of the plan occurred as planned – WOW!&nbsp; Something that actually went as it should without any unusual drama.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">First night in the campground – with 2<sup>nd</sup> grandson, Garrett.&nbsp; This lounging chair position was a favorite each afternoon and evening when the campfire was lit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VERRHsj5EuM/T_pBRMCvIBI/AAAAAAAABPw/gF5EVs9EiN8/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+06301201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VERRHsj5EuM/T_pBRMCvIBI/AAAAAAAABPw/gF5EVs9EiN8/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+06301201.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">3<sup>rd</sup>grandson, Colton, with the Rainbow Trout that he and his dad caught.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hfFHFk4N_kc/T_pBTJLjxhI/AAAAAAAABP4/NL95zSeqZfo/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+06301202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hfFHFk4N_kc/T_pBTJLjxhI/AAAAAAAABP4/NL95zSeqZfo/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+06301202.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panorama of the valley that Bridgeport is in.&nbsp; Our campsite is beyond the far right of the pic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bLlHOyscB-Y/T_pBZkRksZI/AAAAAAAABQA/S8-BgE3gRIg/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07011203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bLlHOyscB-Y/T_pBZkRksZI/AAAAAAAABQA/S8-BgE3gRIg/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07011203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kids – old and young – playing in the creek.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnA6FKaiEoY/T_pBdp6_i3I/AAAAAAAABQI/OZLnV2ZMy6o/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07011204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnA6FKaiEoY/T_pBdp6_i3I/AAAAAAAABQI/OZLnV2ZMy6o/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07011204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g8egYawe6s/T_pSIfMPGcI/AAAAAAAABUI/6krMlkFDXfU/s1600/_MG_4952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g8egYawe6s/T_pSIfMPGcI/AAAAAAAABUI/6krMlkFDXfU/s320/_MG_4952.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset **</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__GHLn9DU8U/T_pSwtEakRI/AAAAAAAABUo/D0F5F5t_YVQ/s1600/_MG_5013_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__GHLn9DU8U/T_pSwtEakRI/AAAAAAAABUo/D0F5F5t_YVQ/s320/_MG_5013_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant Sunset **</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went to Bodie – a mining ghost town to the SE of Bridgeport.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.bodie.com/" target="_blank">About Bodie</a>.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGZ8Qx_3Jg0/T_pBiOgZvGI/AAAAAAAABQQ/v3PZHMG0bAQ/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGZ8Qx_3Jg0/T_pBiOgZvGI/AAAAAAAABQQ/v3PZHMG0bAQ/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021205.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama from near the remaining stamp mill</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VYD77_ovRY/T_pBj2h_hRI/AAAAAAAABQY/-TeXuGvIu1g/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VYD77_ovRY/T_pBj2h_hRI/AAAAAAAABQY/-TeXuGvIu1g/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021206.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window artifacts</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWGpfWX8_Uo/T_pBm_R8l0I/AAAAAAAABQk/3v_XN7xoXkk/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWGpfWX8_Uo/T_pBm_R8l0I/AAAAAAAABQk/3v_XN7xoXkk/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021207.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tattered curtains</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3OJK_t_Jpc/T_pBozOf4jI/AAAAAAAABQs/AMNf797OFhU/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3OJK_t_Jpc/T_pBozOf4jI/AAAAAAAABQs/AMNf797OFhU/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021208.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris flowers</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22glTrmHFh4/T_pBrGdimNI/AAAAAAAABQ0/XBW8WG7ZjVQ/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22glTrmHFh4/T_pBrGdimNI/AAAAAAAABQ0/XBW8WG7ZjVQ/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021209.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice ride to the cemetery</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Mtlvzwl67Q/T_pBt2tQt3I/AAAAAAAABQ8/GExnibCW1GU/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Mtlvzwl67Q/T_pBt2tQt3I/AAAAAAAABQ8/GExnibCW1GU/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021210.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much left of this car - but it had a six cylinder engine</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OwlW8IctVyI/T_pBwEJhS9I/AAAAAAAABRE/IZ3YLb1lfIw/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OwlW8IctVyI/T_pBwEJhS9I/AAAAAAAABRE/IZ3YLb1lfIw/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021211.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General store</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCnFq9sVvrE/T_pByg0lz5I/AAAAAAAABRM/mBJdymMhQUM/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCnFq9sVvrE/T_pByg0lz5I/AAAAAAAABRM/mBJdymMhQUM/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021212.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weathered siding</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVQs7LuRFX0/T_pB0lQaoQI/AAAAAAAABRU/vr2KjqSOsSI/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVQs7LuRFX0/T_pB0lQaoQI/AAAAAAAABRU/vr2KjqSOsSI/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021213.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nsMyGuqG6A8/T_pB2MHemgI/AAAAAAAABRc/0TKdiPRZ8XE/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nsMyGuqG6A8/T_pB2MHemgI/AAAAAAAABRc/0TKdiPRZ8XE/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021214.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama - looking SE </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fws0R7KeDcc/T_pB6wS5x3I/AAAAAAAABRk/vuMoa3tVt2E/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fws0R7KeDcc/T_pB6wS5x3I/AAAAAAAABRk/vuMoa3tVt2E/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07021215.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panaorama of the high dry mountains near Bodie - ~7000 feet elevation</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next day we traveled south to Lee Vining - <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/zS8J">http://goo.gl/maps/zS8J</a> - for a gas fill up in the son’s SUV – 40<span style="color: black;">¢ difference in the 25 miles between Bridgeport and Lee Vining.&nbsp; $4.60 is still expensive – but $5.00 a gallon is robbery when in the flat lands of Sacramento gas is $3.55 at CostCo.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Mono Lake at Lee Vining.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i64CPVBJZK0/T_pCAZgrWVI/AAAAAAAABRs/5Kp6-3SI_6w/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="72" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i64CPVBJZK0/T_pCAZgrWVI/AAAAAAAABRs/5Kp6-3SI_6w/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031216.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama - Mono Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span>Anyway, we went up Lundy Lake Road into Lundy canyon.&nbsp; Quite lovely.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0f39CoWctdk/T_pCH3u10TI/AAAAAAAABR4/oaTPHRSzS74/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0f39CoWctdk/T_pCH3u10TI/AAAAAAAABR4/oaTPHRSzS74/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031217.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama - Beaver Pond</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4520sCvbBNw/T_pCLoqPl2I/AAAAAAAABSA/bXaCSD4n1fs/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4520sCvbBNw/T_pCLoqPl2I/AAAAAAAABSA/bXaCSD4n1fs/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031218.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small waterfall</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Izw6gLAXEZQ/T_pCPq5rLqI/AAAAAAAABSI/duO7CyT5iDQ/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Izw6gLAXEZQ/T_pCPq5rLqI/AAAAAAAABSI/duO7CyT5iDQ/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031219.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspen burl - there were lots of these!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;Then we went up to Virginia Lakes – 9770’ elevation!&nbsp; More than lovely – the area is absolutely gorgeous as you can see.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DG1jEkEtGk/T_pDD6xFgII/AAAAAAAABSQ/P4Y5R7bQ74c/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="42" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DG1jEkEtGk/T_pDD6xFgII/AAAAAAAABSQ/P4Y5R7bQ74c/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">360º panorama - Upper Virginia Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfNnoKHlWZ4/T_pDKuFmxfI/AAAAAAAABSY/Z-IpqM8h-q0/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="68" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfNnoKHlWZ4/T_pDKuFmxfI/AAAAAAAABSY/Z-IpqM8h-q0/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031221.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Virginia Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubjDaU_3Qxg/T_pDOQpVoyI/AAAAAAAABSk/sXqXKqzfGcM/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubjDaU_3Qxg/T_pDOQpVoyI/AAAAAAAABSk/sXqXKqzfGcM/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07031222.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood swirls</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then we went into Bridgeport for their 4<sup>th</sup> of July parade.&nbsp; There were other activities in the afternoon but the grands were being idiots and not worthy of these extra activities.&nbsp; But we went back to a spot outside town to watch the fireworks.&nbsp; Impressive for such a small town!</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYo6ka7Leoo/T_pSTNcjs8I/AAAAAAAABUU/W9t697vKI04/s1600/_MG_4970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYo6ka7Leoo/T_pSTNcjs8I/AAAAAAAABUU/W9t697vKI04/s320/_MG_4970.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colors Presentation **</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj7MhbTtW3w/T_pShxn5xjI/AAAAAAAABUc/yWwI1Zod6ms/s1600/_MG_4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj7MhbTtW3w/T_pShxn5xjI/AAAAAAAABUc/yWwI1Zod6ms/s320/_MG_4980.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parades are for kids **</td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_40BFl3xVac/T_pDQ4FxfAI/AAAAAAAABSs/Ypi4-2otyFU/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_40BFl3xVac/T_pDQ4FxfAI/AAAAAAAABSs/Ypi4-2otyFU/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses - always horses!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AczLyeF7ikM/T_pDaeKAQ9I/AAAAAAAABTE/7En6PnK50GU/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AczLyeF7ikM/T_pDaeKAQ9I/AAAAAAAABTE/7En6PnK50GU/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restored Stagecoach</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0Yc6Yfj1H0/T_pDTmLrNOI/AAAAAAAABS0/wBBszkZGaFg/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0Yc6Yfj1H0/T_pDTmLrNOI/AAAAAAAABS0/wBBszkZGaFg/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041224.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Rods and old cars are always part of the parade</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo58-oqf9u4/T_pDW4RY1qI/AAAAAAAABS8/qCchNp2viw0/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo58-oqf9u4/T_pDW4RY1qI/AAAAAAAABS8/qCchNp2viw0/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041225.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smokey The Bear</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3ZNRSq7X24/T_pS1hyCXYI/AAAAAAAABUw/dfIXn7QBo08/s1600/_MG_5073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3ZNRSq7X24/T_pS1hyCXYI/AAAAAAAABUw/dfIXn7QBo08/s320/_MG_5073.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">**</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOPNCPq6z58/T_pTAmNpHiI/AAAAAAAABVI/szYGataLQwk/s1600/_MG_5087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOPNCPq6z58/T_pTAmNpHiI/AAAAAAAABVI/szYGataLQwk/s320/_MG_5087.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">**</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYjuUMLdZEI/T_pS9GzM9dI/AAAAAAAABVA/D_yZrYsazzw/s1600/_MG_5078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYjuUMLdZEI/T_pS9GzM9dI/AAAAAAAABVA/D_yZrYsazzw/s320/_MG_5078.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">**</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5isDp0i2umM/T_pS4wWn-pI/AAAAAAAABU4/NriHWmVk-mM/s1600/_MG_5075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5isDp0i2umM/T_pS4wWn-pI/AAAAAAAABU4/NriHWmVk-mM/s320/_MG_5075.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">**</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">On Thursday Jeremiah rented a boat and we took a 4 hour cruise on lower Twin Lake.&nbsp; Beautiful scenery and an enjoyable morning with the kids.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3g-IkACfmE/T_pD11Zoc9I/AAAAAAAABTc/quSBh78LBEY/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07051227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3g-IkACfmE/T_pD11Zoc9I/AAAAAAAABTc/quSBh78LBEY/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07051227.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jagged peaks are on the NE border of Yosemite NP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1BkiJSWSSU/T_pEB2aUloI/AAAAAAAABTk/vX-iRDpP6Lk/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07051228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1BkiJSWSSU/T_pEB2aUloI/AAAAAAAABTk/vX-iRDpP6Lk/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07051228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R - Trevor, Colton, Jeremiah, Garrett</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Later that afternoon Jeremiah and Trevor went down the creek and caught more fish.&nbsp; We froze about 20 and brought them back to the flat lands.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cxZ4vnLC0I/T_pDqxeyBLI/AAAAAAAABTM/XYjfucJj2RU/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cxZ4vnLC0I/T_pDqxeyBLI/AAAAAAAABTM/XYjfucJj2RU/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07041229.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevor and fish</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Friday we left the highlands and on the way down to Mather I stopped at a couple of view points for these panoramas.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htgeBVuqYp0/T_pEWr0nTpI/AAAAAAAABTs/CLM56XoK3wc/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07061230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="61" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htgeBVuqYp0/T_pEWr0nTpI/AAAAAAAABTs/CLM56XoK3wc/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07061230.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antelope Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dByeIoIve58/T_pEsrto_AI/AAAAAAAABT4/v2zVNdTE2J4/s1600/Camping+Week+July+2012+07061231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dByeIoIve58/T_pEsrto_AI/AAAAAAAABT4/v2zVNdTE2J4/s320/Camping+Week+July+2012+07061231.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carson Pass - 7990' elevation</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">So… That brings this blog up-to-date and the next posts can be from my actual travels – and MC rides!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">** Picture credit to Jeremiah </span></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-48752530368037150892012-07-08T16:32:00.000-05:002012-07-08T16:50:16.497-05:00Exhaust Pipes<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:10887 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">As detailed earlier, I suspected a crack in one of the Hard Krome 3” Res-Tec exhaust pipes I purchased in August 2011 and installed in September.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arriving at Mather – after cutting out my planned rides in the national parks – Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite – I bought the new Casita caravan and on Sunday I took the offending pipe off the bike.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The crack was barely visible, but there. </div><div class="MsoNormal">On Monday afternoon I called Hard Krome and started the process of a warranty claim.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you say run-around?&nbsp; Shuffled from here to there – person to person and no one would make any TIMELY decision.&nbsp; </div><div class="MsoNormal">After this shuffle game got to the point of ridiculousness, I contacted a company in Washington to purchase some <a href="http://www.vanceandhines.com/store/metric/suzuki/48293" target="_blank">Vance and Hines</a>replacement pipes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RuyKxUCLDLI/T_n7m2LDVOI/AAAAAAAABPk/WZx3MxdVf3I/s1600/Pipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RuyKxUCLDLI/T_n7m2LDVOI/AAAAAAAABPk/WZx3MxdVf3I/s320/Pipes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A minor shipping incident delayed delivery by 3 working days, but the pipes and quiet baffles arrived late in the afternoon on Tuesday June 26<sup>th</sup>.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It took about 3 hours on Wednesday to install them.&nbsp; And yes, they are nice sounding – still a bit louder than I would like, but I’ll live with it. </div><div class="MsoNormal">In August 2011 I was buying accessories for the bike from different vendors.&nbsp; In preparation for the recent sale and move I cleaned my email and deleted all the “receipts” and other correspondence relating to the purchase of all these accessories.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I emailed and then called the vendor <a href="http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/" target="_blank">Phat Performance Parts</a> I thought I had purchased the pipes from – unfortunately it was not those folks.&nbsp; However they were very responsive in their efforts to verify my purchase.&nbsp; When I called I talked to a man that told me that Hard Krome pipes frequently cracked and they had to cut them apart and repair the cracks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">Ironically, Hard Krome no longer makes the 3” Res-Tec pipes.&nbsp; Ken Davie replied – “I see a significant issue should the warranty claim be accepted.&nbsp; We no longer produce these pipes.&nbsp; The current pipes may be viewed at the following URL: <a href="http://hardkrome.com/models.php?modelID=130"><span style="color: #002fdf;">http://hardkrome.com/models.php?modelID=130</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Please note that these pipes are <u><i><b>much louder</b></i></u> than the Res-Tech pipes.”&nbsp; My emphasis.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal">And that was the problem I had with the HK's - they were too loud regardless of what mitigation I attempted.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Later Ken did offer to repair the pipes – shipping to them at my expense – but I made the choice to forego any further contact with Hard Krome and as detailed above – purchased Vance and Hines replacements.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now… On with the planed Summer Vacation</div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-64714151414519345972012-07-08T15:57:00.001-05:002012-07-08T15:57:57.170-05:00Out With The Old - In With The New<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:10887 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">On the trip to Mather from San Antonio the folding camper – the Aliner – proved to be the less than perfect caravan for this summer trip.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Essentially the problem is the need to setup and tear down the caravan every time you want to get inside – it doesn’t matter for what.&nbsp; It requires unlatching the top – erect it and the sides, cook lunch or access the fridge or whatever.&nbsp; When finished you have then fold the sides and top back down.&nbsp; Latch it and get on with the day’s travel.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What a <b>PITA</b>!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If – <b>IF</b> – you were just going to go camping for a few days and not travel this problem would not be a problem.&nbsp; You arrive at the camp site, set the trailer up and then get on with the camping.&nbsp; The trailer stays in one place and all the problems are nonexistent.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arriving in Mather about 2-ish in the afternoon I started looking on <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/site%20" target="_blank">Craigslist</a> for a suitable replacement. </div><div class="MsoNormal">There were several in the price range – and a couple just on the too much side – but mostly too large for towing with the F150. </div><div class="MsoNormal">About 5pm I checked again and there was the perfect caravan – a used <a href="http://www.casitatraveltrailers.com/" target="_blank">Casita 17’ Freedom Deluxe</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal">I immediately called and arranged to go look at the trailer.&nbsp; </div><div class="MsoNormal">It did not take but 15 minutes of looking to recognize that this was a very good caravan for my summer trip.&nbsp; Perfect?&nbsp; No, but it’s called compromise. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 297.0pt;">So there was some financial tap-dancing on Monday morning to get the cash but I brought it to Jeremiah’s home on Monday afternoon.</div><div class="MsoNormal">A bit of cleaning and then it was off to a local RV repair center to ensure that there were no major problems with the running gear – wheel bearing pack and electric brake adjustment.&nbsp; I also installed a digital brake controller so that we would not have any preventable roadside “emergencies”.&nbsp; Even though I’m an AAA RV member I do not want to call them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So here’s the pics as I first saw it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qy98rHIeLao/T_nzuxkmssI/AAAAAAAABOo/EYeXW2OcESs/s1600/Casita+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qy98rHIeLao/T_nzuxkmssI/AAAAAAAABOo/EYeXW2OcESs/s320/Casita+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5AXQKsHP1k/T_nzxDaFzWI/AAAAAAAABOw/SbsrtMMpxG4/s1600/Casita+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5AXQKsHP1k/T_nzxDaFzWI/AAAAAAAABOw/SbsrtMMpxG4/s320/Casita+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSTsebhlg28/T_nzym0_QZI/AAAAAAAABO4/gfd3XsKY7IY/s1600/Casita+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSTsebhlg28/T_nzym0_QZI/AAAAAAAABO4/gfd3XsKY7IY/s320/Casita+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTMV-YZtEXY/T_nz0oI-nVI/AAAAAAAABPA/WWu0cnhQNSw/s1600/Casita+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTMV-YZtEXY/T_nz0oI-nVI/AAAAAAAABPA/WWu0cnhQNSw/s320/Casita+04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MoZEfnudqek/T_nz2m7n6nI/AAAAAAAABPI/lH6MAkX-bE8/s1600/Casita+05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MoZEfnudqek/T_nz2m7n6nI/AAAAAAAABPI/lH6MAkX-bE8/s320/Casita+05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ng_sSHKZR4/T_nz34cSIOI/AAAAAAAABPQ/FgO0b3fvUBY/s1600/Casita+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ng_sSHKZR4/T_nz34cSIOI/AAAAAAAABPQ/FgO0b3fvUBY/s320/Casita+06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-17151458325436938202012-07-08T15:17:00.001-05:002012-07-08T15:17:30.202-05:00Days 7-9 – Thursday-Saturday June 14-16<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:10887 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal">Travel days.</div><div class="MsoNormal">With the problem with the exhaust pipes I cut out my planned rides in the national parks in California (Sequoia, King's Canyon and Yosemite) and I headed to California and Jeremiah’s place in Mather for resolution of the pipes issue.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I left Springerville and drove west and north to Holbrook and then west on I 40 all the way to Kingman.&nbsp; <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/UDXZ" target="_blank">Map</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">In Kingman I stayed the night in a small RV park where it was necessary to plug in the electricity to have the AC going – it was only about 98º when I arrived at about 5:30!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Please note that was June 14<sup>th</sup> – not yet the height of summer!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I had to spend an hour at an AT&amp;T store in Flagstaff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My old iPhone was becoming very unreliable – it would take a crap in the middle of a call or when creating an email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>At times it would not connect to the cell tower and take a crap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So that got old really quick – so it was time to replace it with something reliable.</div><div class="MsoNormal">This whole Summer Vacation trip can – and has been done – without a telephone by folks in past years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But in this day and age a cell phone is so much more than just a phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s my MP3 player, my address book, my web browser and of course a telephone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And yes, there are other apps installed, but those four are my main uses.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately that comes at a cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The cost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Over $800 for the upgrade to a new iPhone4 + tax of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But… Once again I have a reliable phone/browser/MP3 player/email multi-function device.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Up early on Friday morning and out of Kingman by 06:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Luckily I made it through Las Vegas on the fringe of the morning commute and had nothing but a couple of slowdowns.</div><div class="MsoNormal">On past LV there was nothing but desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sagebrush, creosote bushes and not much more.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was on US 95 heading north and took a left toward the west at <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/l7Z5" target="_blank">Lida Junction</a> on NV266.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s not too often that you see signs that strongly suggest that trucks and trailers with more than 25 feet between the 5<sup>th</sup> wheel kingpin and the rear axle avoid the road completely.</div><div class="MsoNormal">So yes, it was narrow, steep, with sharp corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But once in California I turned on to <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/0gqz" target="_blank">CA168</a> toward Big Pine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">If NV 266 was narrow, steep, and had sharp curves, then CA 168 was its daddy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Narrower, steeper, one-way blind crevices cut through solid rock!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Lower gears and slow speeds were the order going up and down!</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qezFr6-GInI/T_nhSNFeBNI/AAAAAAAABM8/nXhuhK2a-kQ/s1600/01+Owens+Valley+Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="97" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qezFr6-GInI/T_nhSNFeBNI/AAAAAAAABM8/nXhuhK2a-kQ/s320/01+Owens+Valley+Panorama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owens Valley at Big Pine</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Once to Big Pine I turned north on US395 toward Bishop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In Bishop I paid $4.10 for gas – prior to this <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the highest was $3.90 at that ‘almost empty’ place on my MC ride a few days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Before that most gas was in the $3.55-3.65 area, getting more expensive the further west I traveled.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Interesting storm over the mountains as I headed north – I experienced about 46 gigantic rain drops from this – just enough to mess the windshield.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIGClA0iYVw/T_nhhPpKWPI/AAAAAAAABNI/arATvIvdrt4/s1600/02+Summer+Storm+over+Sierras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIGClA0iYVw/T_nhhPpKWPI/AAAAAAAABNI/arATvIvdrt4/s320/02+Summer+Storm+over+Sierras.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer storm over Sierra's</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">All over the west coast there is evidence of how alive Mother Gaia is – this Long Valley Caldera was a gigantic blast just an eye-blink ago (in geologic time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There’s a nice lake there now (part of the LA water supply now) that apparently has some nice trout therein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I did not experience that myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBCMYM_HB_Y/T_nh5MLqjOI/AAAAAAAABNQ/e-JZqty3fxY/s1600/03+Long+Valley+Blast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBCMYM_HB_Y/T_nh5MLqjOI/AAAAAAAABNQ/e-JZqty3fxY/s320/03+Long+Valley+Blast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx9W6TF0MIw/T_nh7vbLC_I/AAAAAAAABNY/snhPYf1bohA/s1600/04+Long+Valley+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx9W6TF0MIw/T_nh7vbLC_I/AAAAAAAABNY/snhPYf1bohA/s320/04+Long+Valley+Lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I stayed the night in an RV park just to the NE of <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/FFKS" target="_blank">Bridgeport CA</a> – a nice enough place if the wind wasn’t howling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But as the sun went down the wind died and the night was very pleasantly cool – in the upper 40’s (9ºC).&nbsp; <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/FE0v" target="_blank">Route map</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the final leg of the commute… Bridgeport to Mather.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This was accomplished over <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/6Yun" target="_blank">CA 108, Sonora Pass</a>.&nbsp; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora_Pass" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> for Sonora Pass.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora_Pass"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another one of those roads where the recommended length is short – less than 25’ from kingpin to axle.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The F150 putted right up this narrow twisty road – not fast mind, but steadily.</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was my first real taste of the high sierras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I do not count driving on I 80 over Donner pass as anything but an expedient route to get east of the mountains.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Texas mountains and rocks are predominantly brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Arizona mountains and rocks are predominantly reddish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These California mountains are granite and predominantly grey-white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Quite a contrast from the more usual I’ve so far encountered.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDGZFzRIDA0/T_njJ1KR2YI/AAAAAAAABNk/0ummDXQFVts/s1600/05+Walker+River+Valley+Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDGZFzRIDA0/T_njJ1KR2YI/AAAAAAAABNk/0ummDXQFVts/s320/05+Walker+River+Valley+Panorama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Walker River Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rPrLVhAlp-E/T_njZOFSDyI/AAAAAAAABNs/35nieexkvq0/s1600/06+Carson+Pass01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rPrLVhAlp-E/T_njZOFSDyI/AAAAAAAABNs/35nieexkvq0/s320/06+Carson+Pass01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hfzWlrYpNxw/T_njqIvq2SI/AAAAAAAABN4/7AkFeQvxzlU/s1600/07+Carson+Pass02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hfzWlrYpNxw/T_njqIvq2SI/AAAAAAAABN4/7AkFeQvxzlU/s320/07+Carson+Pass02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpYMuPtXOXM/T_njtbpp97I/AAAAAAAABOA/nnYQmv29BLs/s1600/08+Bike+Rider+Carson+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpYMuPtXOXM/T_njtbpp97I/AAAAAAAABOA/nnYQmv29BLs/s320/08+Bike+Rider+Carson+Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insane Bicycle Rider on CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td></tr></tbody></table>As I was going down the west side of the pass there were about 18 <i><u>INSANE</u></i> bicycle riders going up!&nbsp; Now,&nbsp; this isn't a small hill they're climbing.&nbsp; The gradients are STEEP - I'd guess 15% to 20% in places and 8% to 12% pretty much steady.&nbsp; That means that for every 100 feet of horizontal run the road gains 15 to 20 feet in elevation.&nbsp; These folks were riding this steep road at elevations of 7500 to 8200 feet elevation.&nbsp; <u><i><b>INSANE</b></i></u>!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beFtgeGKm-w/T_njwRPYEsI/AAAAAAAABOI/AqgQiWDrZ-Y/s1600/09+Carson+Pass+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beFtgeGKm-w/T_njwRPYEsI/AAAAAAAABOI/AqgQiWDrZ-Y/s320/09+Carson+Pass+03.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tc7G01Bh9U/T_njz380TFI/AAAAAAAABOQ/pQ40aEC1wB0/s1600/10+Sierra+Resivour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tc7G01Bh9U/T_njz380TFI/AAAAAAAABOQ/pQ40aEC1wB0/s320/10+Sierra+Resivour.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8czCyIfRUd8/T_nj20GAbqI/AAAAAAAABOY/P4B-Iv34qC0/s1600/11+Vista+-+Carson+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8czCyIfRUd8/T_nj20GAbqI/AAAAAAAABOY/P4B-Iv34qC0/s320/11+Vista+-+Carson+Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sierra Nevada Mountains - CA 108 - Sonora Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then we finished up driving through the towns of Sonora, Angels Camp, San Andreas and finally on to Jeremiah and Jessica’s in Mather.&nbsp; <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/2z1S" target="_blank">Route map</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-34627316435750358952012-06-22T15:27:00.003-05:002012-06-22T15:27:28.792-05:00Days 5 & 6 Tuesday & Wednesday June 12-13In the previous post I mentioned that I drove the road – AZ 191 – on Monday with the PU and trailer.&nbsp; And I rode the road on Tuesday.&nbsp; I actually did a <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Springerville,+AZ&amp;daddr=Alpine,+AZ+to:Glenwood,+Catron,+NM+to:Clifton,+AZ+to:US-191+N%2FCoronado+Trail+to:Springerville,+AZ&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=33.541395,-109.096985&amp;spn=1.957221,4.10614&amp;sll=33.541395,-109.050293&amp;sspn=1.957221,4.10614&amp;geocode=FYTVCAId4G18-SnF9eWYXxEmhzGXAZm_VzKvJg%3BFQF8BAIdApt--Sm_ZZ61YUgmhzF8NpByJu-X3Q%3BFXlf_AEdUZOC-SnlebPtvJ4nhzFrCKP7Fhzjsg%3BFRFR-AEdyUV8-SlLu6fL2usnhzFhOgNXGXV7hA%3BFWiNAwIdljN--Q%3BFYTVCAId4G18-SnF9eWYXxEmhzGXAZm_VzKvJg&amp;oq=springervill&amp;mra=ls&amp;t=m&amp;z=9" target="_blank">267 mile loop</a> on Tuesday.<br /><br />I had filled the MC gas tank as I left Springerville.&nbsp; I asked a fella at the café in Alpine how far was gas in the direction of New Mexico – He said in Glenwood – about 55-60 miles.&nbsp; Good-e-nuff thought I, I’ll gas there.<br /><br />But there was a significant amount of road work between Alpine and Glenwood and the speeds were very slow behind the pilot car for 20-25 miles of the 55 from Alpine to Glenwood.<br /><br />So… I get to Glenwood and the gas gauge is flickering between ¾ and ½ tank so I make the decision to not get gas.<br /><br />Well… You know the result – and no I did not run out of gas – but within a few miles of leaving Glenwood the gas gauge was flickering between ½ and 3/8.&nbsp; By the time I made the turn west on to 78 it was flickering between 3/8 and ¼.&nbsp; Not too much further it was solid on ¼.<br /><br />Luckily once I reached the AZ state line the road was mostly downhill and I was more or less coasting – using very little throttle and gas.&nbsp; But when I did have to use throttle I kept the speed down to between 45-50 to conserve even more gas.<br /><br />When I made it to the junction of 78-191 I found a dilapidated station that looked to be closed – but there was an attendant and I filled the tank with 3.65 gallons.&nbsp; I’d have probably made it into Clifton – another 9 or so miles – but lesson learned – <u><i><b>DO NOT</b></i></u> pass up the opportunity to fuel up and avoid these tense am I gonna make it or not situations.<br /><br />The previous post has all the good pics so we’ll skip right to…<br /><br />Wednesday June 13th<br /><br />Coming down the mountain from Alpine on Tuesday afternoon I thought that the exhaust note was especially loud – but wrote it off as the Hard Krome exhaust pipes have always been loud.<br /><br />Tired from the ride, I parked the bike Tuesday night and slept like a log.<br /><br />Wednesday morning I checked the oil and tire pressures and set off at 06:20 for Alpine and breakfast at the café.<br /><br />On the way up the mountain I again thought I detected some extra volume for the exhaust.&nbsp; Again – we’re climbing from about 6975 feet at Springerville to over 8000 at Alpine so I wrote it off as the extra throttle needed to keep the speed up going uphill.<br /><br />After a wonderful breakfast at the café I came out ready to ride 191 from north to south with my video camera going.<br /><br />But the sun was shining on the exhaust side of the bike just right and I saw this horrid discoloration!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKdPyPmNPKg/T-TVBpw0PlI/AAAAAAAABMk/yCir9js_kQ4/s1600/Discoloration1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKdPyPmNPKg/T-TVBpw0PlI/AAAAAAAABMk/yCir9js_kQ4/s320/Discoloration1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM6QsDUglbo/T-TVDRn7vBI/AAAAAAAABMs/udkZqEQgxhw/s1600/Discoloration2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM6QsDUglbo/T-TVDRn7vBI/AAAAAAAABMs/udkZqEQgxhw/s320/Discoloration2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then I knew that my hearing had not deceived me and there was something wrong with the exhaust.<br /><br />So back down the hill to Springerville and load the bike in the PU.<br /><br />I’d paid for the night so I relaxed for the afternoon at the RV park.<br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-77011155330475093632012-06-22T14:14:00.008-05:002012-06-22T14:29:46.299-05:00Day 4 Monday June 11th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This day started as just another travel day.&nbsp; Point A to point B so I could get ready for some MC touring at the Grand Canyon.<br /><br />And it started just that way.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lim1Kmoy8eQ/T-S8fg7FqxI/AAAAAAAABKI/SBZqVnH-tx8/s1600/Old+Clifton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lim1Kmoy8eQ/T-S8fg7FqxI/AAAAAAAABKI/SBZqVnH-tx8/s320/Old+Clifton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Street - Old Clifton</td></tr></tbody></table>Leaving Clifton AZ you climb toward Morenci and the first thing you see is this giant wall of dirt.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55pKnoAGpkc/T-S83QslwNI/AAAAAAAABKQ/_a6pkZqZw38/s1600/Morenci01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55pKnoAGpkc/T-S83QslwNI/AAAAAAAABKQ/_a6pkZqZw38/s320/Morenci01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine Tailings</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>After climbing up the hill you enter the town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morenci,_Arizona" target="_blank">Morenci</a>. <br /><br />Not trying to denigrate the folks that live there, but it is a 100% company owned town and it looks like it.<br /><br />What I found interesting is that the road – AZ191 – is intertwined through the mining town AND the actual mine.&nbsp; Can’t say for sure, but I’d bet the course of the road has changed a few times by the needs of the mine to access the copper ore.<br /><br />To give an idea of the size of the mine - the largest copper mine in north America - here's a Google Earth view.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOe0mSRoLfA/T-S99A6-ljI/AAAAAAAABLg/bUoYipm2r4I/s1600/Morenci+Mine-191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOe0mSRoLfA/T-S99A6-ljI/AAAAAAAABLg/bUoYipm2r4I/s1600/Morenci+Mine-191.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morenci at the red bubble.&nbsp; AZ191 is the yellow squiggly line.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Er07TmLA6Ks/T-S995hXDHI/AAAAAAAABLo/_Zo6AVKA0fw/s1600/Morenci02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Er07TmLA6Ks/T-S995hXDHI/AAAAAAAABLo/_Zo6AVKA0fw/s320/Morenci02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Processing Building</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iB2dSUjNkos/T-S95685EiI/AAAAAAAABLQ/JiPlPyuMAws/s1600/Mine_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iB2dSUjNkos/T-S95685EiI/AAAAAAAABLQ/JiPlPyuMAws/s640/Mine_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BxWqBOpLR0/T-S9iiiXbwI/AAAAAAAABKw/cQef0vAqzv4/s1600/Leo-Morenci+Mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BxWqBOpLR0/T-S9iiiXbwI/AAAAAAAABKw/cQef0vAqzv4/s400/Leo-Morenci+Mine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? I was really there on the bike!</td></tr></tbody></table>Once past the mine the road begins to really climb.&nbsp; Here’s a few pics of the switchbacks just after leaving the mining area.<br /><br />Please note – the road is narrow and there are NO GUARDRAILS!&nbsp; The drops vary from 10-20 feet to hundreds of feet if a curve is missed!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jly_M5W_3nI/T-S-FWfapeI/AAAAAAAABMQ/xBQfWk0eB_g/s1600/Vista1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jly_M5W_3nI/T-S-FWfapeI/AAAAAAAABMQ/xBQfWk0eB_g/s320/Vista1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAjH31TvjsY/T-S-GhTRB8I/AAAAAAAABMY/dXwqRVGsFXM/s1600/Vista2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAjH31TvjsY/T-S-GhTRB8I/AAAAAAAABMY/dXwqRVGsFXM/s320/Vista2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switchbacks</td></tr></tbody></table>As I climbed higher the forest began to change from low level scrub trees to tall and soaring Ponderosa Pines.&nbsp; The aroma was something that brought back memories from decades ago.<br /><br />I did not know what was missing until I got up high and in the middle of the tree lined road.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLgXhgUrdHs/T-S9VnswcRI/AAAAAAAABKY/XKE7DsXln10/s1600/9000+Feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLgXhgUrdHs/T-S9VnswcRI/AAAAAAAABKY/XKE7DsXln10/s320/9000+Feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation - 9177 feet.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oONYkhl14X0/T-S-B9yZr1I/AAAAAAAABL4/3u9unCdp5e4/s1600/Mountain_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oONYkhl14X0/T-S-B9yZr1I/AAAAAAAABL4/3u9unCdp5e4/s640/Mountain_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;">Note the black square in the middle of the panorama.&nbsp; Obviously someone else loved the mountains.&nbsp; I can't help but wonder if this was another tragedy of war?</td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adOq2lh08uI/T-S-DZssZUI/AAAAAAAABMA/ESA7E_pZ2ko/s1600/SE+Toward+NM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ-B_fxoDSE/T-S93-VZGTI/AAAAAAAABLI/l8qM-i6BHHY/s1600/Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ-B_fxoDSE/T-S93-VZGTI/AAAAAAAABLI/l8qM-i6BHHY/s320/Memorial.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Yy_038-wlo/T-S9W9pHmAI/AAAAAAAABKg/z9tfZz7bSxo/s1600/Cactus+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Yy_038-wlo/T-S9W9pHmAI/AAAAAAAABKg/z9tfZz7bSxo/s320/Cactus+Flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTH_EfWb520/T-S9_UGPMeI/AAAAAAAABLw/yg7qmqyt5w4/s1600/Mountain+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTH_EfWb520/T-S9_UGPMeI/AAAAAAAABLw/yg7qmqyt5w4/s320/Mountain+Moth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moth seeking nectar</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ08SKCMeSQ/T-S9YjsTA0I/AAAAAAAABKo/ItOVPxUVXkI/s1600/High+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ08SKCMeSQ/T-S9YjsTA0I/AAAAAAAABKo/ItOVPxUVXkI/s320/High+Road.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A high plain - No cars, so I stopped in the road - no hazard!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euwdjgG9o7s/T-S-Edq6O2I/AAAAAAAABMI/OmQH4RS-89c/s1600/Slow+Corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euwdjgG9o7s/T-S-Edq6O2I/AAAAAAAABMI/OmQH4RS-89c/s320/Slow+Corner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Believe the sign!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhfvWEAMlmA/T-S97ha_UCI/AAAAAAAABLY/pm1q6rSHZi0/s1600/Miss+The+Corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhfvWEAMlmA/T-S97ha_UCI/AAAAAAAABLY/pm1q6rSHZi0/s320/Miss+The+Corner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss the corner - and it's a long way to the bottom!</td></tr></tbody></table>I’d lived out in the low lands – 767 feet elevation at the San Antonio airport – for over a decade.&nbsp; While Texas has a tall mountain – see the previous pics of the Guadalupe’s – it’s in the desert and 700 miles from SA.&nbsp; The Texas hill country is nice – scenic even – but it’s called the hill country for a reason.<br /><br />Riding in the west Texas Davis Mountains was nice, but they were not particularly tall and the pine trees were nice, but stunted compared to the towering Ponderosa’s here.<br /><br />Essentially, a part of my soul was segregated and hidden during the decade in SA.&nbsp; And the most ironic thing?&nbsp; I was unaware there was a piece hidden away. <br /><br />So now that I am aware, I’ll not allow so much time go by without venturing into the mountains to smell the scent of pine in the air – regardless of where I’m living.<br /><br />I drove the road with the PU and trailer on Monday.&nbsp; I settled into an RV park in <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Springerville,+AZ&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=58.598104,131.396484&amp;oq=springer&amp;hnear=Springerville,+Apache,+Arizona&amp;t=m&amp;z=13" target="_blank">Springerville AZ</a> that evening.&nbsp; I unloaded the bike and rode the road on Tuesday.&nbsp; I intended to go back with the video camera on Wednesday – but you can read what happened in that diary.<br /><br />For my riding buddies on <a href="http://www.volusiariders.com/" target="_blank">Volusia Riders</a> and David and Kevin in SA - put this on your "must ride" list before you stop riding.&nbsp; It is that good!&nbsp; Ride it both ways - north to south and south to north.LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-50192680652627260382012-06-17T19:58:00.000-05:002012-06-17T19:58:28.919-05:00Day 3 Sunday June 10thToday was a travel day.&nbsp; About 470 miles.&nbsp; <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/H3mm" target="_blank">Map</a>.<br /><br />Leaving Fort Davis while the sun angle as low, I found a dozen of these rock formations interesting in that light, here's one.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sTNXs5FXuk/T957O7NaElI/AAAAAAAABJs/7v_tHqkG-YU/s1600/Davis+Mtns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sTNXs5FXuk/T957O7NaElI/AAAAAAAABJs/7v_tHqkG-YU/s320/Davis+Mtns.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />If you look at a map of west Texas and southern New Mexico you might notice that the east-west travel routes are somewhat limited.<br /><br />I10 is not too far from the only reasonable choice. Years past when driving to and from California it was mostly I10 for the sheer expediency – can’t beat 80 MPH speed limit when you need to be somewhere fast.<br /><br />Today however, I made a choice to see some different desert.&nbsp; From Van Horn I took 54 north toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park.<br /><br />Now I am quite sure that there is something special about these mountains, otherwise they would not be a national park, but from a distance and from even closer they look to me like big chunks-o-rock in a dry land.&nbsp; Perhaps you can see something special that I cannot?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Mlo6PPDus/T956RakGrxI/AAAAAAAABJc/Hr-ofZJCwx0/s1600/Guadelupe+Mtns+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Mlo6PPDus/T956RakGrxI/AAAAAAAABJc/Hr-ofZJCwx0/s320/Guadelupe+Mtns+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rokvAihepZ4/T956UbpWIjI/AAAAAAAABJk/JPjjYPf5aWA/s1600/Guadelupe+Mtns+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rokvAihepZ4/T956UbpWIjI/AAAAAAAABJk/JPjjYPf5aWA/s320/Guadelupe+Mtns+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />West from the junction of 54/180 is yet more desert.&nbsp; Long straight sections of road dominate from back there to way out there.<br />&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BqMLBE-4X4o/T958iIvyq9I/AAAAAAAABJ0/QEbyMHl8i8Y/s1600/Long-Straight-Road1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BqMLBE-4X4o/T958iIvyq9I/AAAAAAAABJ0/QEbyMHl8i8Y/s320/Long-Straight-Road1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBSbYQhb5NY/T958jlD_ygI/AAAAAAAABJ8/7hsMJ_Rd_4Q/s1600/Long-Straight-Road2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBSbYQhb5NY/T958jlD_ygI/AAAAAAAABJ8/7hsMJ_Rd_4Q/s320/Long-Straight-Road2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Cruise control keeps one under the speed limit as there were a couple of incidences of Texas Highway Patrol sitting concealed behind a curve or large bush at a cross-over, waiting on the next fool that thought 75 wasn’t enough speed to put the miles of sagebrush and alkali lakes behind them.<br /><br />West from Las Cruces there was no choice but I10.&nbsp; The miles came and went and my planned stop for the night at Deming faded quickly behind.&nbsp; Why not stop?&nbsp; Well, the RV park I had thought to stay at had little shade and the west wind was howling.&nbsp; I had little desire to subject myself to those conditions.<br /><br />So on to Lordsburg and then northwest on US70 toward the night stop at Clifton Arizona in the city owned RV park.<br /><br />Once in the RV park I took advantage of the unregulated wi-fi and did a complete reset on my iPhone 3gs hoping that this would cure the ills that it had demonstrated with increasing frequency.&nbsp; This whole trip is doable without a reliable phone, but in today’s world it sure would be inconvenient.&nbsp; The reset went well, but was ultimately unsuccessful as the phone took another dump less than 12 hours later.<br /><br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-13223149096285715312012-06-12T23:35:00.000-05:002012-06-12T23:35:25.414-05:00Day 2 – Saturday June 9thHere at Davis Mountains State Park.<br /><br />Awoke early with first light.&nbsp; Did not feel the need to jump outta bed so turned over and went back to sleep until the sun peeked over the horizon.<br /><br />I unloaded the bike and prepared for my McDonald Observatory loop trip.&nbsp; Texas 118 up the mountain to the observatory then down to I10.&nbsp; East on I10 to RR3078 and then back to the park on TX17.&nbsp; <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/WYsJ" target="_blank">Google maps link</a>.<br /><br />At 7-ish there was a gust of hot wind that came through the campsite.&nbsp; Not cool, not refreshing, but hot.&nbsp; I knew then that this day would be brutal.&nbsp; But I came here to ride the loop and I would.<br /><br />Going up the mountain it’s easy to see the telescope domes – they stand out.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjF8Chbhs_M/T9gVSipOO4I/AAAAAAAABIA/juUL9eK_EKg/s1600/Domes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjF8Chbhs_M/T9gVSipOO4I/AAAAAAAABIA/juUL9eK_EKg/s320/Domes1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8r0MzYkPgOA/T9gVkEXQ2PI/AAAAAAAABIM/eoxO_L7zJn4/s1600/Domes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8r0MzYkPgOA/T9gVkEXQ2PI/AAAAAAAABIM/eoxO_L7zJn4/s320/Domes2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Arriving at the visitor’s center at 8:25 I had hoped that they would open at 9 – but it was not to be – 10am for visitors.&nbsp; If it had been a lot cooler – it was even warm at the top of the mountain – I might have hung about, but with the heat coming on quickly I knew I had to git-r-dun.<br /><br /><br />A wonderful MC road is 118 – through high dry valleys and sparse pine forests it’s crooked and enjoyable – and nearly empty of cars on this Saturday morning.&nbsp; This road cries out to be aboard one of the ‘sport touring’ bikes and not a poky V-Twin cruiser.&nbsp; But it was enjoyable nonetheless.<br /><br />Breakfast was amid the sparse pines of a roadside picnic site.&nbsp; In this post I mentioned about the noise and hubbub of living in the city.&nbsp; Here at this idyllic roadside rest stop there wasn’t a noise one but for the wind in the trees and the bird calls.&nbsp; I spent about 40 minutes eating and walking around and in that time there were a total of 5 vehicles that went past – one of them was the contract caretaker that checked the garbage cans.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7cJCtqI1YI/T9gWUhP6o9I/AAAAAAAABIU/NRS7XKPGNjM/s1600/Breakfast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7cJCtqI1YI/T9gWUhP6o9I/AAAAAAAABIU/NRS7XKPGNjM/s320/Breakfast1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fezAMMtdbBQ/T9gWr8TwyhI/AAAAAAAABIc/xi3NCRBcpdI/s1600/Breakfast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fezAMMtdbBQ/T9gWr8TwyhI/AAAAAAAABIc/xi3NCRBcpdI/s320/Breakfast2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />No contrails overhead.&nbsp; No jet noise.&nbsp; No barking dogs.&nbsp; No lawn mowers.&nbsp; Just what my soul needed as a part of the first MC ride.<br /><br />No pictures – but flies!&nbsp; WOW!&nbsp; Everywhere and in abundance.&nbsp; I stopped to drink about ¾ the way down the mountain.&nbsp; Standing in the shade of a Yucca it took about 30 seconds for the flies to find me.&nbsp; There were no cows, no human habitation within sight, but the flies were there.<br /><br />Yeah, we had flies in SA, but not to this extent.&nbsp; I’m curious as to why they are so prolific out here seemingly in the middle of no place west Texas?<br /><br />I stopped in Kent – was a wide spot in the road with a Chevron station – but now it’s all boarded up and nothing is left but the empty buildings and canopy over the (former) gas pumps.&nbsp; Welcome shade.&nbsp; I drank some more and saturated my cool vest with water.&nbsp; This cool vest goes on under your outer layer – in my case just a long sleeve shirt – and the passing breeze evaporates the trapped water keeping the body core cooler.&nbsp; I will say that it works just fine.<br /><br />A strong west wind – did I mention hot? – pushed me east on I10.&nbsp; The bike ran really well at the 80 MPH speed limit.&nbsp; Lots of comments on the VR forum about vibration at higher speeds – but it was tolerable today.<br /><br />Some might say I’m an odd sort of character – and maybe I am in some ways – but I am always on the lookout for seemingly out of place – unusual – things.<br /><br />Today I found a small Catholic chapel out in the middle of abandoned farms and houses.&nbsp;<br /><br />It’s got a history – Catholic mission when this area was a booming farm community.&nbsp; But the water source – a spring – dried up in 1983.&nbsp; There’s not much left but rusted farm machinery and falling down houses.<br /><br />I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cy_IOH6sYzU/T9gXBo2v_hI/AAAAAAAABIk/inVHUWUka0Q/s1600/Calera1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cy_IOH6sYzU/T9gXBo2v_hI/AAAAAAAABIk/inVHUWUka0Q/s320/Calera1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EeaxI7QRI4/T9gXF_YdVII/AAAAAAAABIs/o4UPRgsECJE/s1600/Calera2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EeaxI7QRI4/T9gXF_YdVII/AAAAAAAABIs/o4UPRgsECJE/s320/Calera2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx2L_i0A0IM/T9gXLF3ff-I/AAAAAAAABI0/32qyo42551w/s1600/Calera3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx2L_i0A0IM/T9gXLF3ff-I/AAAAAAAABI0/32qyo42551w/s320/Calera3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WADeEKC1LGc/T9gXPil5JRI/AAAAAAAABJA/JDin14-k444/s1600/Calera4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WADeEKC1LGc/T9gXPil5JRI/AAAAAAAABJA/JDin14-k444/s320/Calera4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTsahhneXWA/T9gXVX2qQjI/AAAAAAAABJI/MgWxXcDbqok/s1600/Calera5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTsahhneXWA/T9gXVX2qQjI/AAAAAAAABJI/MgWxXcDbqok/s320/Calera5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OydEnHJKhyc/T9gXan7OwNI/AAAAAAAABJQ/B2RTLP3UGS4/s1600/Calera6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OydEnHJKhyc/T9gXan7OwNI/AAAAAAAABJQ/B2RTLP3UGS4/s320/Calera6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Under the Latin prayer book was this marksmanship medal.&nbsp; I’d think that a mother, or sister left it for one of our fallen.&nbsp; Poignant and sad too.<br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-4047400613825699012012-06-12T22:54:00.000-05:002012-06-12T23:38:04.286-05:00Day 1 – Friday June 8thAwoke at my usual 05:20-ish having to pee.&nbsp; It’s hell getting old and the bladder not being as elastic as it once was.<br /><br />Tried to go back to sleep but unsuccessful, so up and about by 6.&nbsp; Loaded everything – MC included – by 7:30.&nbsp; All hooked up and ready to roll by 8:10.&nbsp; Goodbyes and pictures took a couple minutes so pulled out of the driveway of 8607 at 08:20 Friday June 8th 2012 – 4 days later than planned.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IW8OFDa7HsA/T9gMrjWLb5I/AAAAAAAABHc/Hm0PEx7enxM/s1600/Leaving+8607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IW8OFDa7HsA/T9gMrjWLb5I/AAAAAAAABHc/Hm0PEx7enxM/s320/Leaving+8607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />By the time I had stopped by the bank, got fruit and other groceries, topped off with gas it was 10:35 when I hit I10 westbound.<br /><br />I set the cruise on the speedometer at 62 – GPS said it was 68.&nbsp; This 10% speedo error is new as it was not there when I brought the truck back from Vegas. I wonder if the slightly oversize rear tires I put on contribute?&nbsp; Maybe it’s a calibration thing with the PU’s computer.<br /><br />Filled with gas at Fort Stockton – only 13.25 MPG @ 64-65 MPH on the GPS.<br /><br />Now typing this settled in for the night at Davis Mountains State Park.&nbsp; Overcast with a wonderfully cool breeze.&nbsp; Just ate some beef and rice.&nbsp; Caravan plugged in to the electricity and the AC has cooled the interior so it should be cool enough to need a light blanket tonight.<br /><br />Tonight would be really pleasant – if it wasn’t cloudy so I could see the Milky Way and if the damn midges and flies weren’t so overbearing.&nbsp; The flies being a great reason to want a different campsite that’s not so plagued with them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XSMScIs8ihY/T9gNUYKlL8I/AAAAAAAABHk/XL3Ey_3CT60/s1600/Davis+Mountains+SP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XSMScIs8ihY/T9gNUYKlL8I/AAAAAAAABHk/XL3Ey_3CT60/s320/Davis+Mountains+SP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Davis Mountains State Park - Dry and desolate huh?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIj-0Lbl1y4/T9gN8kzSNLI/AAAAAAAABHs/gk8zMb_JSUA/s1600/Top-of-Mountain+Cell+Signal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIj-0Lbl1y4/T9gN8kzSNLI/AAAAAAAABHs/gk8zMb_JSUA/s320/Top-of-Mountain+Cell+Signal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Had to drive to to of mountain to get a cell signal.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibfE2ajpOoY/T9gOb_1P34I/AAAAAAAABH0/wzhAnzpOHZE/s1600/Cooking+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibfE2ajpOoY/T9gOb_1P34I/AAAAAAAABH0/wzhAnzpOHZE/s320/Cooking+Dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Cooking dinnerLeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-54506843528361820102012-06-12T22:28:00.000-05:002012-06-12T22:28:32.230-05:00FUBAR and SNAFUThese acronyms come from the armed forces during WWII.<br /><br />Wikipedia here – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_slang_terms#FUBAR" target="_blank">FUBAR</a> – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_slang_terms#SNAFU" target="_blank">SNAFU</a><br /><br />These terms pretty accurately describe the final days of my house buyer’s ordeal getting the mortgage to fund and the funds transferred to my bank account.<br /><br />Ameripro Mortgage Company and Reliance Title Company did their best at every turn to delay the closing.&nbsp; I will not go into great detail, but suffice to say that neither of these companies are on my recommended list.&nbsp; I’ll merely say that if possible, avoid these companies like they had the plague!<br /><br />If there were problems – then we can deal with these things as long as the communication flows.&nbsp; But no one answered their phone.&nbsp; Voice mails were not returned.&nbsp; People said the mortgage was ready for a.) approval, b.) funding when in fact it was not.&nbsp; When I grew up they called this lying.&nbsp; Nowadays it’s just business as usual.<br /><br />We finally signed papers on Wednesday night at 8:15 pm.&nbsp; Yes!&nbsp; That late.<br /><br />Fortunately, the notary was competent and we signed and initialed in all the correct places so that once the title company processed the papers there were no further problems.&nbsp; The mortgage actually funded late on Thursday afternoon and my proceeds were wired to my bank account by 5:00 pm on Thursday.<br /><br />So… I am no longer the owner of 8607.&nbsp; I can no longer suffer the joys of home ownership.&nbsp; LOL!<br /><br />Now I’ll suffer the joys of pickup, trailer and motorcycle ills!<br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-62805217753915166342012-06-12T22:24:00.000-05:002012-06-12T22:24:36.463-05:0011 Years – Enough!Some folks put a bumper sticker on their car that says, “I’m not a native Texan, but I got here as fast as I could.”<br /><br />That does not fit me!<br /><br />It’s tough leaving good friends – David and Bea – David and Tammy – Mike and Patty. But I’m sure we’ll keep in touch – even though I don’t do Christmas cards! There are other folks I’ll miss too, but they’re not as close.&nbsp; <br /><br />San Antonio – I loved the winters and detested the summers.&nbsp; 95ºF (35ºC) or more from May to September and humidity that just drenched ya!&nbsp; Typically the summer temps were 95º to 104º in the late afternoon and it was still 88º at 2am.&nbsp; The low occurred just before dawn and was frequently in the 75º to 78º range.&nbsp; So a 20º to 25º night-day difference was typical.<br />These temps made it easy to move from air conditioned house to air conditioned car to air conditioned work to air conditioned grocery to air conditioned restaurant and then back to your air conditioned house.<br /><br />No more $300 (or more) monthly electrical bills in the summer for me.&nbsp; I’m finding or traveling to a climate where the days are warm but the nights are pleasantly cool.&nbsp; Then in winter I’ll bundle up and throw another log on the fire.<br /><br />Finally, selling 8607 also completely closes an 11-year period of living in a suburb of a HUGE city.&nbsp; Having a house – no matter how convenient – too close to a freeway and the international airport and thus suffering constant noise and dirt.<br /><br />I know I should never say never – but I am confident that I will never again live so close to a freeway or a major airport.&nbsp; I will not suffer the noise or pollution.&nbsp; Additionally, I am also confident that, while I may visit Texas at some point in the future, I’ll not live in a house in Texas again.<br /><br />Been There Done That and now it’s Good-Bye Texas!<br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-37729202442411535552012-06-12T22:21:00.001-05:002012-06-12T22:21:31.201-05:00Wi-Fi - Yeah!Traveling as I am and updating this blog requires I find free wi-fi.&nbsp; I've got no other way to do it.<br /><br />So here in Springerville Arizona at the Casa Malpais RV Park, I have a strong wi-fi signal sitting here in the RV.<br /><br />So I've saved several and we'll do a mass post tonight and tomorrow.LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-14032607329870999162012-06-07T19:45:00.001-05:002012-06-07T19:50:46.888-05:00Vacating 8607Well… The final move out of 8607 happened more or less as planned.&nbsp; Minor glitches – but those things part of living I suppose.<br /><br />I left SA on Friday May 25th and was on the road by 11 from 8607.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmx33FPei5o/T9FJ8wiwRSI/AAAAAAAABGw/1wUA9hbOdyY/s1600/Leo-Truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmx33FPei5o/T9FJ8wiwRSI/AAAAAAAABGw/1wUA9hbOdyY/s320/Leo-Truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Stopping for gas for the U-Haul I ran into the first of several “for your protection” limitations on how much gasoline you can pump at one time - $100 worth.&nbsp; Here in SA that was about 29 gallons.&nbsp; Other places the price was higher and therefore the gallons less.&nbsp; Doesn’t take a calculator to figure that a $100 worth of gasoline does not take a loaded U-Haul very far when the truck gets about 6 miles to the gallon.<br /><br />Nice scenery – if you call the west Texas desert nice. But what I had not realized was that from about Junction (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/aqhP">http://goo.gl/maps/aqhP</a>) west to the summit outside Sierra Blanca (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/VhAV">http://goo.gl/maps/VhAV</a>) that the road – even though it looks level – actually gains a couple dozen feet per mile.&nbsp; I don’t remember the exact elevation at the summit, but I found it interesting that a seemingly flat and level looking road was actually going up significantly. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfp-RXiTBu4/T9FKQHC3wMI/AAAAAAAABG4/mE63q7tHIjY/s1600/Lonely+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfp-RXiTBu4/T9FKQHC3wMI/AAAAAAAABG4/mE63q7tHIjY/s320/Lonely+Road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />There were some nasty winds on Saturday as I went across southern New Mexico and on into Arizona.&nbsp; 20-25 steady with gusts to 40-50 was the forecast.&nbsp; And I believe it!&nbsp; That U-Haul was rockin’ and rollin’ side-to-side.&nbsp; Makes for a tense day driving a rig that has super-loose steering that throws the truck around every time a significant bump or pot hole was hit.<br /><br />And speaking of road conditions – I’m spoiled by the roads here in Texas.&nbsp; In comparison to Arizona and California roads the Texas roads are as smooth as glass.&nbsp; I can see the effects of AZ and CA being broke – their roads are in very poor condition.<br /><br />But I always find the scenery in Arizona to be interesting.&nbsp; Would love to someday be in this rocky area at sunrise to catch the interplay of rocks and shadows.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxFJLXUXDvI/T9FKcJT_rAI/AAAAAAAABHA/91bp0w2Zr_g/s1600/AZ+Rest+stop+rocks+-+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxFJLXUXDvI/T9FKcJT_rAI/AAAAAAAABHA/91bp0w2Zr_g/s320/AZ+Rest+stop+rocks+-+truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQDwHD_j1-Q/T9FKdagbTnI/AAAAAAAABHI/ohTrbiGCkBU/s1600/AZ+Rest+stop+rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQDwHD_j1-Q/T9FKdagbTnI/AAAAAAAABHI/ohTrbiGCkBU/s320/AZ+Rest+stop+rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Not much else of note happened on the drive – SOSDD* mostly.<br /><br />Unloaded lots at Jeremiah’s place – stuff he can use immediately or tools that he can use whenever.<br /><br />There’s some things in a storage unit – WOW are they expensive! – that will have some disposition within 18 or so months.&nbsp; Either they go to my new abode or sold.<br /><br />Had a great time with the grands – got to see both Trevor and Garrett play baseball.&nbsp; Kinsley was all over me, loving and snugglin.&nbsp; Ain't she a cutie!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvzyDQnq8wQ/T9FKxA4-S-I/AAAAAAAABHQ/f7zaZKZb-bY/s1600/Kinsley+5-28-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvzyDQnq8wQ/T9FKxA4-S-I/AAAAAAAABHQ/f7zaZKZb-bY/s320/Kinsley+5-28-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Colton was a bit more reserved than other visits – but since we’ll be seeing the grands a bit more often I expect that will change too.<br /><br />The next post will detail the joys of the house sale process.&nbsp; I look forward to putting all that behind me.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>*Same Old Shit Different Day</b></span>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-52609680143959795902012-05-20T20:17:00.003-05:002012-05-20T20:17:59.930-05:00Why?Not a total stranger - but nothing more than an acquaintance really, asked "Why?"<br /><br />Why are you doing this?&nbsp; This sell most stuff, get the rest to the son's place and then ride off on the motorcycle?<br /><br />'It's an adventure' wasn't the sort of answer he was wanting.&nbsp;&nbsp; So, I really didn't know how to answer and the conversation went on from there.&nbsp; And in the intervening months I've not seen the guy again.&nbsp; I'm not going back to find him now that I've found the answer.<br /><br />On this blog - <a href="http://www.40on2.blogspot.com/2011/07/shoot-for-no-regrets.html" target="_blank">40on2</a> - the author told me the answer of why I'm doing this.&nbsp; <span style="color: red;">I've highlighted the really relevant paragraph.</span><br /><br />"Shoot For No Regrets <br /> <div class="post-header"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjs-HcXEBdI/Tg-MFH89zAI/AAAAAAAAChM/RogovCkRb1k/DSC_5459sm.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjs-HcXEBdI/Tg-MFH89zAI/AAAAAAAAChM/RogovCkRb1k/DSC_5459sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">I've spent a lot of time lately </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">visiting my mother who just turned 90 years old.&nbsp; She lives now </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">at an assisted living residence, or as we used to say "the old folks home."&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Mom’s had a good life, is well loved by her family, and she and my dad traveled quite a lot over the 64 years they were married.&nbsp;</span></div><div> </div><div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I like to ask the people I meet at the retirement place about their life and give them a chance to talk.&nbsp; Often no one really talks to them or asks them much of anything beyond the banal “How are you feeling today?”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">A few, like “Smitty,” who was part of the Anzio landing in WWII, or the very talkative lady who doesn't remember much but remembers performing on Broadway in the 50's, have had pretty amazing lives.&nbsp; They DID things and saw things that became a part of them, and they remember those things.&nbsp; And their kids and grandkids and great-grandkids might even remember someday.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: red;">Sadly, most have no great stories, none beyond the fact that they worked and raised kids who hate to visit them now, or worse.&nbsp; A few wrinkled faces sometimes look regretful about their lack of adventures.&nbsp; That regretful look is painful to see because there is no way to undo it and they seem know they </span><i style="color: red;">could</i><span style="color: red;"> have done things, could have had adventures, but didn't. </span></span></div><div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div> <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I believe that long time motorcycle riders have the spirit to do more than merely live.&nbsp; Try not to be one of those who regrets what they did not do."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div>So... I'm doing the 'no regrets' thing and I'm also gonna have some stories to tell 25 years from now when I can no longer sit astride the bike and go have another wonderful day riding.</div><div><br /></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-40791463391900575092012-05-15T19:04:00.001-05:002012-05-15T19:04:32.541-05:00Everyone Needs Goals and PurposeI had not noticed it until lunchtime today, an odd bit of behavior that is.<br /><br />I’ve been living in San Antonio for 11 years now, since May of 2001.&nbsp; In that time I’ve found some favorite places to eat.&nbsp; Some have been and gone, some have remained.<br /><br />Those that are still around have been getting a visit from me over the past couple months – since it was certain that I would not remain in SA, but move on to other places and other experiences.<br /><br />So… at lunch I visited another of the favorite restaurants that are local only.&nbsp; Slurping the great strawberry milkshake I realized that will be part of my quest for the next years – finding other places that make a great milkshake!<br /><br />It gives my life purpose!<br />LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-30798724915402698672012-04-30T15:48:00.000-05:002012-04-30T16:00:45.598-05:00Another Checklist Tick-off<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frojpLi11WI/T576NI_cdDI/AAAAAAAABGk/z0bmkvDXw7M/s1600/Khan+and+Wu+Together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frojpLi11WI/T576NI_cdDI/AAAAAAAABGk/z0bmkvDXw7M/s320/Khan+and+Wu+Together.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Princess Wu (left) and Genghis Khan have gone on to a new home with new folks to love ‘em.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">In a way I’m sad to see them go as they helped me through the darkest hours of early 2011.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">In a way I’m happy to see them go as they were starting to be a pain in the ass with their teenager-esk behavior of late.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">But… It’s a necessary step toward my being able to move forward.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">And I feel really really good with their new ‘parents’ Doug and Lori.&nbsp; Nice folks with obvious compassion for animals.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The kids are in good hands.</div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-29329103449197953232012-04-22T12:24:00.001-05:002012-04-22T12:25:23.957-05:00Another CheckmarkI've got the bank check - he's got the car.<br /><br />Sad in one way - happy in another. <br /><br />Bye-bye!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cWN1gIOGLlI/T5Q-IODy6jI/AAAAAAAABGc/FJGIUepwsvU/s1600/2003+VW+Jetta+TDI+Wagon04171201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cWN1gIOGLlI/T5Q-IODy6jI/AAAAAAAABGc/FJGIUepwsvU/s320/2003+VW+Jetta+TDI+Wagon04171201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2003 VW Jetta TDI</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-50940853681491579752012-04-09T07:46:00.001-05:002012-04-09T07:52:00.903-05:00Time To Grow – Again<div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:10887 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bri and I were having a discussion where I was telling her about an epiphany I’d had in the middle of the night.&nbsp; In just a few weeks I will be homeless – by choice.&nbsp; We talked about how the unknown and unfamiliar is always scary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah, I know.&nbsp; I’ve got the truck and trailer and I’m traveling by choice so in a way I am not really homeless.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But in reality I will be.&nbsp; I’ll have no fixed address.&nbsp; No ‘roof’ that I will return to when the travel is over.&nbsp; Since getting out of the Navy in January of 1978 I have provided a fixed place to call home – rented from a landlord or from the mortgage company – for me and family.&nbsp; In a few weeks that phase of life will be over – or at least on a lengthy hiatus.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Bri wrote in a follow-up email – <b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“Although all this is scary, on the other hand I am convinced you are full of curiosity and anticipation to see new things. &nbsp;Now your time has come, you had to wait so long for it. &nbsp;And to live some time as a nomad will bring you so much positive experiences. &nbsp;Time to 'grow' again."</i></span></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smart, insightful lady, my Bridget.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-65687861644210040882012-04-05T13:36:00.000-05:002012-04-05T13:36:41.197-05:00Another Step CloserWorking on getting all my ducks in a row for the June launch of "My Summer Vacation".<br /><br />Picked up the trailer this morning.<br /><br />Working on the next steps.<br /><br />Truck and trailer combination in Texas ranch country.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAYSQ3L7ILY/T33mI0D9ZbI/AAAAAAAABGU/CjXZiJRHW7Q/s1600/Truck-Trailer+Combo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAYSQ3L7ILY/T33mI0D9ZbI/AAAAAAAABGU/CjXZiJRHW7Q/s320/Truck-Trailer+Combo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-89596509333403655332012-04-04T08:16:00.001-05:002012-04-04T08:17:58.518-05:00Clever Animals<div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We humans are clever animals.&nbsp; I write this in an aluminum tube speeding westerly at 35,000 feet.&nbsp; Below I watched the light snakes – car headlights following the twists and turns in the roads – as their drivers and passengers started their work week by driving dozens of miles into the city environs to earn enough lucre to afford to live so far out in the country for their ‘quality’ of life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some ‘quality’ – 60 to 90 minutes in pack after pack of cars, all regulated by arbitrary traffic signals so that from on high they look like slowly moving dashes with occasional individual blobs of light between.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">___&nbsp;&nbsp; ..&nbsp; .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ___&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .&nbsp; .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ___&nbsp;&nbsp; … &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;..&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ___</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At least 5 days – for some of these poor sods, 5½ or 6 days are needed to just keep up with the rest of the pack, let alone get ahead.&nbsp; I can’t help but wonder at what level of the corporate hierarchy these moving lights reside?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AA2goGkFW-I/T3xH_luj67I/AAAAAAAABGM/Grxct0Tij2o/s1600/Capitalism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AA2goGkFW-I/T3xH_luj67I/AAAAAAAABGM/Grxct0Tij2o/s320/Capitalism.jpg" width="252" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">(click pic to enlarge)</span></span></span> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now we try to outrace the coming dawn, but man cannot easily do this for the sun comes inexorably over the horizon to cast its light upon the land – and for the 2<sup>nd</sup> of April its unseasonal heat too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qx_BVUf4Jc/T3xHWsV0enI/AAAAAAAABGE/mYD0nU46FRQ/s1600/A+new+Dawn.1200w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qx_BVUf4Jc/T3xHWsV0enI/AAAAAAAABGE/mYD0nU46FRQ/s320/A+new+Dawn.1200w.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 1<sup>st</sup> and I had to turn the AC on last night to cool and dehumidify the house so I could actually sleep comfortably.&nbsp; And the skeptics say there is no climate change happening.&nbsp; Ostriches with their proverbial heads in the sand – or lacking sand, up their behinds.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the plane moves further west the lights of civilization spread out – obviously few people live here – and I’ll bet they don’t commute into a city.&nbsp; Most likely their work is right where they live – or close by at least.&nbsp; Some might call these folks ‘real’ people as opposed to those city dwellers further east – and especially way further west! </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But these folks live on the land and appreciate its vagaries and moods.&nbsp; Those city folks – probably not so much as they commute from their air conditioned homes to their air conditioned offices in their air conditioned cars.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, I will not turn off the AC when it’s needed, but this summer I hope – by riding the MC numerous times and essentially living in a mobile home so small that I’m going to have to be outside in my ‘living room’ – to get a bit more in touch with the variable nature of Mother Gaia.&nbsp; I look forward to this opportunity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All this thought as Southwest flight 711 in a Boeing 737 rose from the runway at SAT – San Antonio International Airport.&nbsp; Over the 11 years I’ve lived in SA I’ve probably flown out of the airport three dozen times – give or take a few.&nbsp; If my plans run true, this one was the last time out.&nbsp; One more time in and then I may return to SA a time or three in the future, but this will be the last flight out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I suppose I could say that the day I was laid off began a new chapter in my life, But the shock of that event took several weeks to work its way out of my consciousness.&nbsp; Nebulous plans swirled about, misty and hazy things – long term goals and other concepts.&nbsp; But those weren’t real.&nbsp; Today, flying to Las Vegas to pay for my next few months transportation is a real event, more concrete – at least in my mind.&nbsp; Life really is changing.&nbsp; Stay tuned as the pace will quicken for some weeks before it’s all resolved.</span></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-3565704763957418432012-03-30T20:39:00.000-05:002012-03-30T20:39:03.574-05:00Fluidity<div style="font-family: inherit;">Plans are an amazing human phenomenon.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">We make 'em and swear that we're gonna follow 'em.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe the first few steps in the plan go just as - well, you planned.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Then there's a variance - or six, thus "The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry"</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Back in an earlier post there was the general idea of divesting myself of 40 years of accumulated manly-man tool 'stuff' and then selling this house and moving on to an apartment to await next year so I could move to Gran Canaria and live happily ever after with Bridget.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Well, that last part is still in the plans - but the rest - we've met the enemy and he is me.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">So here's the modification...</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I post this I’m in the middle of selling the house and a significant portion of a 40-year collection of ‘stuff’. Winnowing out what goes and what I keep versus what the son gets – and he’s gonna get a lot of stuff, tools and family memorabilia. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">But in a few weeks I’ll be pared down to the true essentials and the son’s stuff. By late May I’ll load all that into a U-Haul and tote it to him in Sacramento. I’m planning to not leave anything behind here in Texas – except my ‘official’ residence for driver’s license and vehicle plates etc. After delivery I’ll fly back to SA. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">The plan is for me to buy a small camp trailer (focused on a used one of these - <a href="http://www.aliner.com/campers/Expedition" target="_blank">Aliner - The original A-frame travel trailer</a> or perhaps one of these <a href="http://www.chaletrv.com/folding.php" target="_blank">Chalet folding travel trailers</a>.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">I’ll tow that behind a long-bed F150 pickup. I purchased a 2005 F150 fancy XL off of eBay on 3/29.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Flying to Vegas on Monday 4/2 to pay and drive it back!<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb440/SAQuestor/2005F150Side.jpg" /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">The Boulevard will go up a ‘Big Boy aluminum MC ramp’ (<a href="http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle_ramps.htm?clickid=0004bc7ff1277bb10aec7403e977716f" target="_blank">Big Boy Motorcycle Loading Ramps</a> ) into the bed of the pickup where it will nestle nicely as we move our ‘home’ from place to place. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">So in mid-June I’ll grab what’s left and head back to California, meeting the son and three grandsons in the eastern Sierra’s for a week’s camping. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">All this means that by the 7th of July I’m gonna be ready to travel! The idea is to travel 50 to 350 miles in a day with the whole rig. Stay out in the boondocks if possible or find an inexpensive campground and park the whole rig. Stay in some sort of a campground if I’m gonna be riding for a smidgeon of security for the truck and trailer. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">Being a native Washingtonian I’m going to go visit the family graveyard and see some old childhood haunts, knowing full well that they’re not as I remember. Visit some still living relatives, as I’ll probably not see them again – at least in this lifetime.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">On the MC touring days I’ll unload the MC and ride whatever nearby twisty’s there are whether that takes a day or two. Then I’ll load’em up, wash, rinse and repeat. Don’t have to be at any one place at any time so the schedule can be adjusted as necessary as long as I meet the end date in September to be back in Sacramento. <br /><br />For some folks this may seem like way too much regimented planning and not enough go-with-the-flow. But this sort of <b><i><u>general planning</u></i></b> seems to me to outline an idyllic summer holiday.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We'll assess how this plan survives when we meet the 'enemy' of the road.<br />&nbsp; </span></div>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-26400826008259604792012-03-18T09:28:00.000-05:002012-03-18T09:28:00.037-05:00ThingsBooks.&nbsp; Clothes.&nbsp; Tools.&nbsp; Pots and pans.&nbsp; Knives.&nbsp; Frozen food.&nbsp; Furniture.&nbsp; Computer gear.&nbsp; Personal papers.<br /><br />Just Stuff.&nbsp;<br /><br />Moving on from being in one location for years to a new location is an exercise in evaluating the stuff that accumulates as one lives in one place for years. <br /><br />What is important and what is not?&nbsp; Hurrumph.&nbsp; It was all important once.&nbsp; Now?<br /><br />How does one sort the stuff that has been life?&nbsp;<br /><br />Old directions.&nbsp; Old hobbies.&nbsp; Old learning.<br /><br />That's a perfectly wonderful winter coat, but do I need a heavy winter coat if I do not intend to live in the snow and cold?<br /><br />All those mundane objects are <i><u>relatively</u></i> easy to deal with, but tools.&nbsp; Tools have been my life - professionally and personally.<br /><br />Oh, the machinist tools are easy-ish.&nbsp; Don't need the micrometers and such.&nbsp; The 3/4" heavy-duty socket set is a no-brainer.&nbsp; The years and years of accumulated nuts and bolts are gonna go too.&nbsp; But all these tools going out of my life is like losing an old friend that was always there when needed.<br /><br />Too much stuff.&nbsp; Too many memories.&nbsp; Too little time for a proper goodbye.LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102847954800435828.post-50272577041217075002012-02-22T20:35:00.001-06:002012-02-22T20:58:35.742-06:00Two roads diverged in a yellow wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ5-Pw-xJag/T0Wi4wxHX4I/AAAAAAAABF8/-WPMLzXMBLI/s1600/Paleo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ5-Pw-xJag/T0Wi4wxHX4I/AAAAAAAABF8/-WPMLzXMBLI/s320/Paleo.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tonight's meal.&nbsp; Skinless baked chicken. Green beans and sautéed mushrooms. Cauliflower. Spinach and baby greens salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Red wine.<br /><br />A few weeks ago I was corresponding with a RV friend and he told me of his leaving all products that contain gluten out of his diet.&nbsp; He detailed the health benefits he experienced in just two months of foregoing any product that contains cereal grains.&nbsp; And he loves(d) cinnamon rolls!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />I explored the concept of Paleo diets and came to the conclusion that I cannot follow them to the letter but I can emulate the concept as closely as possible.&nbsp; This is the result.&nbsp; Doggone tasty too!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp; <br /></span></div><hr align="CENTER" size="3" width="95%" /><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Road Not Taken<br /></b><br />Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br />And sorry I could not travel both<br />And be one traveler, long I stood<br />And looked down one as far as I could<br />To where it bent in the undergrowth;<br /><br />Then took the other, as just as fair,<br />And having perhaps the better claim<br />Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br />Though as for that the passing there<br />Had worn them really about the same,<br /><br />And both that morning equally lay<br />In leaves no step had trodden black.<br />Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br />I doubted if I should ever come back.<br /><br />I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—<br />I took the one less traveled by,<br />And that has made all the difference.<br /><br /><b>Robert Frost<br /></b></span><br /><hr align="CENTER" size="3" width="95%" /><span style="font-size: small;">So...<br /><br />As a result of my 'forced' retirement my path seems to be diverging from earlier ideas and expectations.<br /><br />As detailed earlier on this blog, I’ve met a lady – on the internet of course since we’re modern boys and girls – and we’re getting along famously. &nbsp;Personalities seem very compatible and our point of view on many of the issues of the day seems to closely coincide – not necessarily match mind, but not too disparate. &nbsp;I’ve visited and she’s gonna visit in April and then I’m planning on spending September with her, and etcetera.<br /><br />She’d be more than happy to come and spend a decade or two living in a caravan traveling hither and yon, but for the fact that her 16 1/2 year old daughter isn’t out of school just yet. Yes, Bri is a decade younger than me.<br /><br />One more small issue to deal with – she’s lived on Gran Canaria for the past 25 years. &nbsp;She’s loathe to leave her job as personal assistant to the CEO of a multinational family owned hotel chain.<br /><br />Unless some unexpected event or personality quirk derails this train it seems that I’m gonna go spend a bit of time living in Spain and on Gran Canaria island. &nbsp;Actually, it’s a good thing in my mind. &nbsp;Not too much to get bored with there – have to learn a new (for me) language – Canarian Spanish – a bit different than ‘regular’ Spanish I’m told. &nbsp;Bri has to still work so that leaves the entire day for me to play a ‘house husband’ role with the cooking and gardening chores. &nbsp;And then if I buy a small motorcycle or scooter I can easily explore the small villages along the shore and in the mountains. &nbsp;So, a new culture to immerse myself in and stuff to see, learn and do.<br /><br />Another plus is the ability to travel and sightsee in Europe. &nbsp;Since Bri has been in the same position for 17 years and working for the company for 20, she gets significant vacation time and we can and plan to take some of that time for a week in Spain, a week in the wine country of France, Ireland in August and Italy often.<br /><br />Now, to paint and sell the house here in SA, get to 62, start the pension and SS, deal with the visas and other red tape that it will take to get into Spain as a resident while keeping all of the paperwork and red tape of the USA at bay. &nbsp;I expect to move in about 12 months – or just shy. &nbsp;It’s gonna be an interesting year!</span>LeoinSAnoreply@blogger.com0